Carters Beach

{{Short description|Town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Carters Beach

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|settlement_type = Coastal settlement

|image_skyline = Carters Beach, West Coast, New Zealand.jpg

|image_alt =

|image_caption = Carters Beach at low tide

|etymology =

|nickname =

|coordinates = {{coord|41|44|52.8|S|171|33|43.2|E}}

|area_total_km2 = 0.59

|area_footnotes =

|population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}

|population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}

|population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Carters Beach|y}}

|population_density_km2 = auto

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = New Zealand

|subdivision_type1 = Region

|subdivision_name1 = West Coast

|subdivision_type2 = District

|subdivision_name2 = Buller District

|subdivision_type3 = Ward

|subdivision_name3 = Westport

|seat_type = Electorates

|seat = {{ubl|West Coast-Tasman|Te Tai Tonga}}

|leader_title = Territorial Authority

|leader_name = Buller District Council

|leader_title1 = Regional council

|leader_name1 = West Coast Regional Council

|leader_title2 = Mayor of Buller

|leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Buller District Mayor|y}}

|leader_title3 = West Coast-Tasman MP

|leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|West Coast-Tasman MP|y}}

|leader_title4 = Te Tai Tonga MP

|leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}}

|image_map = {{Infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|41|44|52.8|S|171|33|43.2|E}}|zoom=11}}

}}

Carters Beach is a suburb of Westport on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Located {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} west of Westport on State Highway 67A,{{cite web |title=Carters Beach |url=http://www.cartersbythesea.co.nz/location.html |website=cartersbythesea.co.nz |publisher=Carters By the Sea Motel}} it offers a pristine sheltered sandy beach on the West Coast suitable for swimming.{{cite web|last1=Nathan|first1=Simon|title=West Coast places|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/west-coast-places/page-3|website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=23 February 2009}} From the Buller River jetty at the east end of Carters Beach, west to Cape Foulwind, the beach runs for more than 9 uninterrupted kilometres.

Carters Beach is occasionally used by naturists for nude sunbathing.{{cite web| url=https://www.freebeaches.org.nz/si_rest.htm| website=FreeBeaches NZ| title=Naturist Beaches - Rest of South| access-date=2021-04-01 }} New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".{{cite court|litigants=Ceramalus v Police|reporter=AP No 76/91|court=High Court of New Zealand|date=5 July 1991}}

The Kawatiri Coastal Trail is under construction and was expected to be completed in 2021,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Kawatiri Coastal Trail|url=https://www.kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406012104/http://kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz/ |archive-date=6 April 2017 |access-date=|website=}} since delayed to 2024.{{Cite web |title=Home - Kawatiri Coastal Trail |url=https://kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz |language=en-NZ}} The bike trail will connect Westport to Carters Beach, and continue south to Charleston. In Carters Beach, it passes through wetlands, past the golf course, and through the domain (public park) as it winds its way south.{{Cite web|title=Kawatiri Coastal Trail Map – Westport to Charleston, West Coast|url=https://www.kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz/the-trail/|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Kawatiri Coastal Trail|language=en-US}}

An 18-hole golf course{{Cite web|title=My Homepage|url=https://www.westportgc.com/|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Westport Golf Club|language=en-US}} and Westport Airport{{Cite web|title=Buller District Council, New Zealand » Airport|url=https://bullerdc.govt.nz/airport/|access-date=2020-09-18|language=en-US}} are located near the town. Erosion along Rotary Road in 2018 resulted in the closure of the beachside road and threatened the possible closure of the nearby airport.{{cite news |last1=Redmond |first1=Adele |title=Storm accelerates coastal erosion at Carters Beach |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/west-coast/101149344/storm-accelerates-coastal-erosion-at-carters-beach |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=3 February 2018}} However, in 2020 the road along the beach to the west side of the Buller River mouth was rebuilt as a bike and pedestrian path. Granite rock has been piled along the beach to prevent further erosion and impact to the airport.

The town offers accommodations and a restaurant.

Carters Beach was named after an early settler who farmed the area in the late 1800s.